Parachute target



H. GoLDsTElN PARACHUTE TARGET sept. 13, 1949.

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Filed July 26, 1944 Patented Sept. 13, 1949 'U N IT ED -STAT-ES PAT EN T*OFF I CE PARACHUTE TARGET Hymen Goldstein,Fairlawn,'N. J.

Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,722

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-1054) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmenlzalpurposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to targets and more particularly to a targetadapted to anti-paratroop defense practice.

One object of the present invention is to produce an inanimate targetwhich Will effectively simulate a paratrooper descending from a plane.

Another object is to produce a target simulating a paratrooperdescending from a plane in which the target Will have a natural swingsimilar to that inherent in a human parachutist.

Still another object is to provide an anti-paratroop target which whenleaving the plane will have minimum chance of becoming entangledtherewith.

Further objects Will be apparent from consideration of the followingspecification which when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawing the single figure shows a target member embodying thepresent invention, descending from a plane.

Referring to the drawing, the target comprises a sleeve-like member Isubstantially the size of a man. The sleeve l terminates in a metal ring3 in the lower end thereof which holds that end in open position,allowing air to pass through the sleeve and billow it out. Weights 5which may comprise sand bags are positioned substantially diametricallyopposite each other so as to provide proper speed to the descent.Placing the Sand bags opposite each other causes the target to have aswinging movement, similar to that of a person descending by parachute.The open end of the sleeve is contracted as shown at 6 and has anaperture 'l in the upper end thereof to provide for the restrictedescape of air passing through the sleeve, thereby providing a sumcientpressure to maintain the target sleeve inflated.

shroud lines 9 connect the upper end 1 of the sleeve I with a parachutecanopy 10, the canopy IO providing proper drag and reducing the speed ofdescent of the sleeve to about 20 ft. per second.

Operation In operation, the target is bundled by folding in accordionfashion or so that the ring 3 forms the bottom of the bundle and theparachute canopy IO forms the top. The bundle is then tied with very lowtensile strength string, the

string tying the bundle passing through a strap If sewed or otherwisesecurely fastened to the top of the chute l. A cord |3 of relativelyhigh tensile strength is attached to the strap |2 through a break loopM. The strength of the cord |3, the string and the loop |4 are soarranged that on pull on the cord |3, the string will break before theloop |4.

When it is desired to release a target, the bundled target is thrownfrom the plane with the free end of the cord |3 secured to the plane.When the string breaks the bundle is released and the target opens. Asthe target completely opens, the loop M breaks and` the target descendsto the ground.

During the descent of the target it may be fired upon either by groundtroops or by strafing from airplanes. i

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, it will berealized that it is susceptible to various changes in size, Shape, andarrangement of parts without departing from ther spirit of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A target of the Character described comprising a sleeve, a ringconnected to one end of said sleeve and adapted to maintain said sleevein open position, a pair of diametrically opposite weights carried bysaid sleeve adjacent said ring, said sleeve having a restricted openingin the end thereof opposite said ring, a plurality of shroud linesconnected to said sleeve adjacent said restricted opening, and aparachute joined to said sleeve through said shroud lines.

2. A target of the character described comprsing in combination aparachute canopy, shroud lines joined to said parachute canopy along itsedges, a hollow elongated inflatable sleeve joined to the lower ends ofsaid shroud lines, means to cause infiation of said sleeve by air as thetarget descends toward the ground, and means secured to the lower end ofthe sleeve to cause the target to oscillate as it descends.

3. A target of the character described comprising in combination anelongated fabric sleeve open at both ends and of generally cylindricalshape when infiated by air received through the lower end during descentfrom an elevation, a ring at the lower end of said sleeve to hold thatend in open position and allow air to infiate said sleeve duringdescent, the opening at the upper end of said sleeve being smaller thatthe opening at the lower end thereof, a weight secured on said ring atthe lower end of said sleeve, shroud lines secured to the upper end ofsaid sleeve at the edges of said smaller opening, and a para- Numberchute canopy attached along its edges to said 22691169 shroud lines atthe ends of said lines remote 5 2282,234 from said sleeve and saidcanopy being adapted to support the Weighted sleeve in a position simuflating a human parachutist as' the target deflfmmber scends toward theground from said elevation. 106553 HYMEN GoLDs'I'EIN; m 691956 iREFERENCES CITED 13 The following references are of. record in'the Vfile of this patent: t

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENT- Name Date Manson Jan. 13, 1942 Mlnnich May 5,1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Countryq T, Date v "Italy Jan. 19, 1910 France July22, 1930

